MOSCOW, July 10 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. More and more states are betting on hypersound. In addition to Moscow, Washington and Beijing, several other players have joined the competition for leadership in this area. However, only one country has serial products that have passed the entire test cycle.
The first European
At the end of June, France tested its novelty. The prototype of the V-MAX hypersonic combat unit was launched at the Biscarros training ground in the Landes department. It is reported that the V-MAX gained a set height and passed the entire route in normal mode. The white trace of the flight of the combat unit was observed in the skies of Toulouse, Montpellier, Aquitaine and over the Basque Country (northern Spain).
A video frame of the alleged test of the V-MAX hypersonic combat unit
Image source:
The French were the first in Europe to create such a weapon. And, I must say, they managed quickly. The Ministry of Defense ordered the development in January 2019. As a basis, the designers took the drawings of the supersonic cruise missile ASN4G, which is expected to enter service no earlier than 2030.
There is little information about V-MAX in open sources. It is claimed that the hypersonic combat unit is capable of accelerating up to six thousand kilometers per hour. According to engineers, the glider can actively maneuver on the trajectory, which makes it difficult to intercept existing and promising air defense and missile defense systems. It is emphasized that the complex is strategic. So, part of the warheads is nuclear.
This is probably a response to the Russian Avangard complexes. However, the French product is clearly weaker. So, the Avangard combat unit at one of the sites showed a speed of about Mach 27 numbers. Nevertheless, even six thousand kilometers per hour is enough to consider the V-MAX a hypersonic shock system.
In addition, the EU is engaged in protection against hypersound. The developer — MBDA — promises to manage in three years. According to media reports, there are already contracts with France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. Eric Beranger, the company's executive director, said that the missile defense system will be deployed throughout Europe.
American Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems
Image source: © Photo : U.S. Army / Eugen Warkentin
"What results they will get is a big question," says military expert Yuri Knutov. — Creating a high-speed, highly maneuverable interceptor, as well as a radar, is an extremely difficult and time—consuming task. I doubt that three years will be enough. I think they will do something, but it is extremely inefficient. At best, they will be able to destroy a third of the targets."
Regional argument
The other day, Iran entered the high-speed arms race. The Commander-in-chief of the Navy, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, said that the Damavand 2 destroyer equipped with hypersound will soon join the fleet. He did not specify which one. It is known about one development — the Fattah rocket.
It seems to have a range of 1400 kilometers, a maximum speed of 15 thousand kilometers per hour. Judging by the published materials, the warhead's engine is small, with a controlled thrust vector for active maneuvering. Thanks to this feature and the aerodynamic rudders, the Fattah is very precise.
This cannot but worry Israel. Their "Iron Dome" is designed to intercept much less high-speed targets. At the same time, Tel Aviv did not inform about any of its own developments of this type. Iran is the first hypersonic power in the Middle East.
Leaders and outsiders
China is the leader in East Asia. Back in 2019, the PLA showed a sample at a military parade.
DF-17 medium-range ballistic missiles at a military parade dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the formation of China, in Beijing
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Anna Ratkoglo
The DF-17 rocket with the DF-ZF combat unit accelerates to Mach ten numbers, the range is up to 2500 kilometers. You can hang both conventional and nuclear weapons. How many such missiles the PRC has is a military secret. The annual bulletin of The Military Balance talks about 24 installations.
At the end of February, the Chinese experienced a long-range hypersound DF-27. According to the Pentagon, the rocket covered 2.1 thousand kilometers in 12 minutes. American intelligence estimates a maximum range of five to eight thousand kilometers. That is, any target in East, Southeast Asia and a significant part of the Pacific Ocean is in the affected area.
North Korea also has hypersonic ambitions. On the fifth and 11th of January, two launches were held there, which, as usual, attracted a lot of attention from neighbors. The recorded range is about a thousand kilometers. This is a Hwasong-8 with a planning combat unit. The characteristics are classified. Pyongyang claims that the missile accurately hit an object at a distance of 700 kilometers.
There are several hypersonic programs in the USA. But not a single sample has yet passed the entire test cycle. Navy Vice Admiral Johnny Wolf called for "urgent catching up." First of all, from Beijing and Moscow.
MiG-31 multi-purpose fighter with a hypersonic Dagger missile
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Grigory Sysoev
Russia is already armed with the Avangard strategic complex and Dagger aeroballistic missiles. Anti-ship "Zircons" have been coming to the fleet since this year. Everything is in mass production. In the hypersonic race with the "first army of the world", Moscow is still leading with a dry score.
